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Dec. 13, 1927. 1,652,888

c. TER cocK AUTOMATIC LIGHTING DEVICE FOR MOTOR CARS Filed M ch 25. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 an; a K

Dec. 1 3, 1 92 7.

C. TER COCK AUTOMATIC LIGHTING DEVICE FOR HOTOR CARS Filed March 25, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 will ' i u i ge poo Patented Dec. 13, 1927.

- warren srArEs CHRIS TER COCKQOFHYNAARDEN, NETHERLANDS.

AUTdMATIC Licn'rrnd pnyioniro' n' j Moron ums filed March 25, 1927, Serial 178,263,}mi iii agaahgiienmmt23,1926

i It is well known that a chaufieur drivingva motor car in the dark on a country road has his' attention continually diverted, obliged as he is to switch out theh ead lights and to switch one; town or passin'glights and spotlight and road lights whenme'eting cars driving in the opposite direction. 5 Besides he has to switch on the headlights again and to switch out the town orpa'ssing lights and spotlight and roadlightsgiim mediately the car driving in the opposite direction has been passed. These manipulations are very irksome and it is virtually impossible for the chauiieur to haveagood survey of the road and to drivepro'pe'rly at the same time. Many accidentslhavefhappened on this account. f The'object of the present'applicationis to accomplish the switching over from'j'head lights to town'or passing lights and"auxiliary lights and the reverse way, simply b y closing a switch which can be fitted onthe steering'wheel whereby when actuated'the town lights and auxiliary lights remain burning until the switch stops operating, when the head lights are switched on again and the town lights and auxiliary lights are switched ofi'.

The automatic device according to the invention can easily be fitted to existing cars without altering the lighting systems, only one to threeshort cables being required.

This automatic device can be used for lighting systems with and without fuses. A solenoid with switch-gear changes the lights, which solenoid is energized by closing a switch. The solenoid is provided with two coils, having windings wound in the same direction connected in parallel or windings wound in opposite directions, when the inner terminals are connected together. These coils are coupled in parallel to the head lights, a small switch connecting the windings with the ground or with the negative pole of the battery in case of a double pole system. One of the coils is cut ofi automatically by means of a special contact de'- vice. The plunger of the solenoidmoves'a contact block, this block being provided with strips on which contact fingers press, some (if whichjjare connected' t' 'o ltheghead -lights when solenoid i'sout IoZf action and to the town or 1ights ,{ahd au'xiliai'y 1 lights when the SOlenOiG fis-Op'e'ratiIi'g, or with the head *lights'connectedfin series orf with dimmed head lights;accordingltojthe system; The strips are connected to the 'contact fiI'1-' gers in such a way; that when fth sole'noid is switched mi the towirlightsenmauxiliary lights start-burning and whenthe solenoid is switched"ofi these liglits'iare"extinguished and the head lights are placed in circuit The automatic device re arding i to the present invention is shown? in "the accompa ps w ns av "Fig. '1 is a diagram or a lighting y'stem with head 'aiidtown' liglits'and withus .a; o s; sa

as used in" a'welhknowniligliting systeinf j 1*ig. 3"is a wiringdia' ram'forasystem-as used with a resistance %or'= dimming.

I Fig. leis a wiringdi agramfoi a system wherein the iheadilights are switched from paralleltoseriesi f" f "All thee diagrams show groundedmon nections. "'j f Fig ffi is a horizontal section of the apparatus, I Fig. 6'is a side'view of'the apparatus:

Fig. 7 is a front View, seen from the right,

Fig. 8'is a section on line AA of Fig: 6;

Fig. 9 is a section B'B of'the switch,

Fig. 10 shows the bumper, serving atthe same time as a dust cover.

In Fig. 1 is shown a'battery l which is grounded and connec'ted inthe usual way to the switchboard as' fitted on the dashboard, the'cables leading to terminals 2 and 3. These terminals are' bridged by switches '2 and 3 to terminals 2 and 3 From these terminals cables lead tothe terminal block of the automatic switch 2 which is connected with X and the latter by a strip with termi; nal XI, to which are secured the cables of the town lights 4 and 5. Terminal 3" is connected via terminal {III and a stripj to tenninal IV which leads to the switchgear of the automatic device and from there to terminals XIIaiid 'XIII, to whichqhead lights 6 and 7 are connected. The auxiliary lights 8, 9, 10 and 11 are attached to the terminals VI, VII, VIII, and IX, which are interconnected by removable strips. The switch 12 mounted on the steering wheel or as most convenient, is connected with termigial ll; In case'of a double pole system, tergiinal I can be used to join up the return lea s.

The solenoid frame 17'ha's'tw'6 coils 13' and 14 which have opposite windingdirections when the inner t'ermnialsare" 'conne'ct ed together and, when theyhave windings in I the same direction, they are joined in'par'ait' le l .1; -I n: ,th e center ofthese coils 13 and 14 avry thinhard-drawn tube liwith plunger I 113 F is fitted, making a tight fit ,with: the, frame 17, thereby ofierin'g'slight resistance to;the lines of force. A brass extension ,18

( i -this plunger-bearsagainst the contact loc ube suppmf e t 9B d by stop, 2Q,',which is riveted or ,screwed to ram 1 .73 12 .a af ej he e b m 11? 2 I with contact fingers 34, 35, 36,137

nd n arcing. e tact 39-, This e ii i tact 39 consists of a fiexible'contact finger 40 and a; rigid; contact finger 4' 1,. the ;contacts pr'oper as fitted to these fingers being. made of aspeeial material to withstand; arcing. Contactffinger; 11 .at the same time serves as, contact finger 36 to press on block 19. Sliding rods :27 and 28 withinsulated'ends push; ,a gain s t contact finger 40, thereby breaking contact 39 when nealrl y atfthc' end of their travel. Spring. 42, fitted in a recess 43 of contact block19, its other end bearing against; contact holder 29, is compressed by the 'trave lling of thisblock and as soon as the solenoid is fOlllZbQf' action, pushes back this" b1ock1 and thereby I erten sion piece 18 and plunger 16 to their ..normal position, when contact fingers 30 gand 31 are connected by, strip 24 and contact fingers 32 and 33 by. cohtactstrip 26. o

U The ;c nnections v of this. switching arrangement are as follows;

Contact finger 30 is connected to terminalIII,

Contact finger 31 is connected to terminal XII,

is connected to teris connected to ter- "connectedv to: teris connected to terto ter- Contact finger is connected to ter- One end ,ofacoil l3 is connected to terminal g I. 1

'I;he',other} end of coil;.13 'is connected f to terminaIII, i '1 I One end of terminal 11. 7 7:

Theitermirials 3 and 31'a'r'e connected by str -24b5, T e vterminals32"and 33 are connected y ipwg 1 i Th'eterminals 34' and 35. are efinered yp The .term' als 36,- 37 a'n'd' 3'8 areconn ect ednby t'ripi bi ,5; 7' Wheaus'iag are towii' rzpa'sgiag lflgm-s sw :3 nteee nnscf f ii mi 'si T 15nd; 2"; imeiibl a' J i lsilitls i a. rB i y 1. 5 i X5 v 341. 51 ground, ,l 1" ii. wh ..ufs n' are: h' dj j g tsti vi c interconnects iirinjnt fls 3land l3f. Wlihfth current aw1aee1'; Hi 1. r a 1ed mp, ;i i, (Mi

The 'ter ifiina1s', II ,aaa'xlv ";:'%1,n "b 1 an: nected by meari's of a'stri'p,'whei eti tlie cui' rent at the same time flows fronii'fI 32,133, XIII, head .ia'm'p, and ,7 as gr'aaaafiz'rhe terminals XIIHand can also be con nected by means "of astrip. I

In case the headlights 6 7 are't'obe switched out and the town or" passing lights 4 and 5 and the spot lights and road lights 8, 9, 1Q and I1 areto be switched on, by using switch 12; the following circuit is established: Q,

Battery 1, 3, 3' ',,'.III, IV, 13, 'II, 12 to earth. This causes; the solenoid tobe energized when .e ktension piece 18 of plunger 16 presses against cont-act block 19 and moves it-axrally'. Connectionfbctween con:- tact fingers 30-and 31 and strip 24 and between contact fingers 32 and 33 is broken and at the same time c'oxtac't fingers 34 and 35 press on strip 23 an contact. fingers 36, 37 and-38 press on strip 25 withthe result that the circuit from fingers 30 and 31 to head light 6 and the circuit from fingers 32 and 33 to head light 7 will be incurrent froin'finger 36 runs-Via strip to loa'nd' 11 and from strip' f25 to terminals xkanaxizi':

. fBfore' iilunge r 118 contacts with" stop 20 "in: )1 .1 ,-.V =z l i h v aiitomat c, ey ce does not any current, wh le, ,du'ring'fthe time the town or passing T thein sulat'edends of 't herhds 27' and 28 have the coil 14, "the latter: operating, -this" coilpnly being used asianoperating coil and I thereby diminishing consumption of current. .zaw-i ,3 .3,?

Co l 1,3,wfh1ch serves .asaretammg coil and ses. 7 3 9 1 flss l fren f r a WW X ,filaiidffremain switched on the ligh'tsian'd'the auxiliary lights are burning a very small amountj of lcurrentffisfiused, througlijfretainiiig coil 13. '[IBy stopplng'opwill be,interruptedand spring 42 pushes hacfi theco'ntrol block 19, which, again will move extension'piece 18 and plunger 16 to its normal position, whereby the town lights and auxiliary lights are extinguishedand the head lights 6 and 7 are switched on again.

An auxiliary switch 44 can be used for connecting terminals IX and X, so that in case of damage to the automatic switch, the auxiliary lights can be lighted together with the town lights, for which the switches of the switchboard on the dashboard are to be used. By switching off the head lights, by opening switch 3 and by closing switch 2' the following circuit will be established:

1, 2, 2", X. XI, townlights 4 and 5, ground and over 44 to IX, VIII, VII, VI, auxiliar lights, 11, 10, 9, 8. and ground.

By stopping operation of switch 44, and not touching the switchboard, the small lights 4 and 5 can be used only, when passing through a town. In case the head lights are desired, switch 2 has to be opened and switch 3 brought into action. As to lighting-systems where the head lights are protected separately. and the town or passing lights together, when switching on the head lights, the circuit is established as follows: (see Fig. 2).

1, 3, 3", to the .fuses 45 and 46. From 45 the current runs to III and from 46 to IV. From III to contact fingers 30, 24, 31, XII, lamp 6, ground. From IV to contact fingers 32, 26. 83, XIII, lamp, 7 and ground.

The blowing of a fuse has; no influence on the other head light, the circuits for the head lights 6 and 7 remaining separated and finger" 37 and to terminal VI I, which" is c o n'1ie(it ed fup with the'a uxiliary lights 8, 9',

d anyjfdamageff fAs long as the therefore/the strip between terminals III and IV should not be used.

In case the town or passing li hts are required, by using switch 2 the fhllowing is established:"

Battery 1, 2, 2", fuse connected to' the'town orfpassing lights, and ground. For this system therefore the ca bles of the-town l'ightsarenotbrought to the terminal block of the automatic switch. 'When using switch 12 the' head lights are interruptedand the townor passing-lights,

the spotlights *and the roadlights are switched on!- The circuit wi1l-;be as follows 1-, 3,3"; 3- ",46; IV,"36, 25, 37, 3 8and from to X which' 'iterminal" is connected to tera minal 2.", to fuse" 47 lamps 4 and 5, ground, and'whereb'y the town lightsfbyjusing the automatic' device, remain protected by the fuse17. o, U r 1 Theauxiliary'swit'ch is fitted between terminals IX and=X. -;w 2655. 5

Regarding the ligliting systems using a resistance for dimming the head lights, thereby-lowering the voltage and where no town lights are used the circuit when switching' on the -hea d lights, is as follows jz Y Battery, head IV, IIIIV,"32, =26, 33', 13,"7- ground. and from lII, 30. XII, 6 to ground. The terminals XI, XII, and XIII are interconnected.

When using the position dim of the switchboard, the following circuit is established:

1, dim, head and further as above. using switch 12 the circuit is as follows:

1, battery, head, dim and also to IV. From IV to 36, 25, 37, VII, auxiliary lights, 8, 9, 10, 11 ground and also from head through the resistance to dim, V, 35, 23, 34, XI, XII, XIII, lights 6 and 7, and ground.

The auxiliary switch 44 is fitted between V and VI. \Vith position dim of the switchboard and by closing the auxiliary switch, the following circuit is established:

1, battery, dim, head and also to terminal V. from head to IVIII and from IV to 32, 26, 33, XIII, lamp 7, ground and from III to 30, 24, 31, XII, lamp 6 to ground. Consequently the head lights are burning with reduced voltage.

From dim to V, 44, VI, VII, VIII, IX, lamps 8, 9, 10, 11, ground. The auxiliary lights have normal voltage.

The lighting systems switching over from the head lights connected in parallel to the head lights in series, turning out the town lights, and where each head light is protected by a fuse, the following circuit is established with lights in parallel:

1, terminal 48 which is connected to terminals 51 and 52. Fuse 45, terminals X and XI, which are interconnected, head light 6,

47 which remains XII, 31, 24, 30, III, terminal 50. The latter is connected up to terminal 49 and this one is grounded.

The other circuit is:

52, 53, 46, IV, 32, 26, XIII, head light 7, and ground.

For using the head lights lowing is established:

, l, 48 being connected up to 51, 5'2, 45, X, XI, headlight t), XII, 31, ill, 30, III, 50, 53, 46, IV, 32, :26, 33, 13, head lights 7, and ground. I

lVith the head lights in parallel and by using switch 12, even though the lamps remain in parallel with regard to the switch board on-the dashboard, it is possible to place the lights in series whereby the following circuit will be established:

' 1, 4.8, 51, 52, 45, X, XI, head light (3. XII, 31, 35, 23, 34, XIII, head light 7, and ground.

M5052, 5-3; 41 6; IV,'36, 25,07, VII, VI, VIII, IX, auxiliary lights 8, 9,-10, 11', and ground. These lights-hare the normal volt The auxiliary switch 44 is fitted bet-ween terminals IX and X. For head lights in series and by using this switch, theeircuit is as :follows:

Terminal X, 44,'IX, VIII, VII, VI, lamps,

in series the fol- 11, 1O, 9, 8, and ground. 'lhese auxiliary lights have therefore normal 'olta'gep I claim as my invention:

1. A lighting system comprising head, passing and road lights; a source; means comprising a relay to selectively connect either the head lights or both the and road lights tothe source; manuallyf'operable means for energizing the relay; liieans' for connecting the passing lights to 40 source regardless of the position of'tlie' relay; and an auxiliary switch to connect .the' roa d lights to the passing'lights' f 2. A lighting sylstei n comprising'main and auxiliary lightsja source; a relay having. two actuatingcoils and a plurality'of se't's of contacts, means 'eonipris'ingcerta' n' of contacts for connecting the main'lig ht's fio the source inone position of the relay, means comprising other of said con ta'ets for" connecting the auxiliary lights-to the source in the other position of the relay; n 'aniially, operable neans to connect tiIlQ QdiIS f'IQ source to actuate the relay; andad difiiofia l contacts carried by the relay to break tl 1e'g'ir cuit of one of the coils as 't he,rel;1'y"a'p'- pro-aches the end-of its actuating stroke. I

In testimony whereof I affixin'y signature! CHRIS TER 'e'o'eigif 

